Archive for the Yuri Anime Category


Yuri Anime: Bloom Into You (English)

October 24th, 2018

Another good reason to take a look at HIDIVE is Bloom into You, simulcasting on Fridays. In no way is that a general statement – the Bloom Into You anime is a surprisingly excellent entry into the list of recent Yuri anime. (2018 is going to actually be a fun year to write up that top anime list!)

Because I have detailed every single concern I have ever had with the manga in previous reviews, I’m going to just set them aside. Not because the anime addresses them, but because the anime gives us additional layers and nuance to the story. I didn’t expect that…and I liked it.

The story is pretty much done straight from the manga. This is very typical in a Kadokawa series that runs in Dengekoi Daioh magazine. Traditionally, the anime runs through the first couple of manga volumes to stimulate interest in an ongoing series. It would thrill me to know that we were going to get to the point of the school play in Volume 6, but I do not expect it. ANN lists 12 episodes, which sounds about right for the typical Kadokawa marketing plan. 

As ever, I find myself watching Sayaka, here voiced by Kayano Ai – who seems to be a regular in many of the popular Kadokawa series. The anime really plays up her longing looks at Touko and the laser-like intensity with which she regards Yuu. For her, the animation really amps up the tension. 

The animation itself is all right. The faces strike me as having weirdly pointed chins which reflects the art of the first volume, but not the better art of later volumes. Backgrounds are given more detail than people, as is the way these days, but I feel the gap here is less pronounced. Body movements (and clothing motions) seem better animated than I expected and the backgrounds aren’t that hyper-realistic that makes the characters seem out of place. I do have one very sincere complaint, however. The eyes are animated strangely and yet, are constantly the focus of close-ups. I don’t mind that the faces are not exceptional well-drawn – I deeply mind that we’re forced to zoom in on them over and over. Dear gods, visual media directors, please stop doing every scene in close-up. For pity’s sake, back the fuck up.

Overall its balanced, if not brilliant, animation, with way too many close-ups on strangely drawn eyes.

Those of us following the manga won’t be in for any surprises regarding the plot, but if you haven’t been reading the manga I can actually recommend the anime as a solid place to start. And, man, does that feel good to be able to say. When I was at Yuriten and saw the poster for the anime, I actually groaned inside. After the last couple of Yuri anime that I could not recommend and frankly wish were wiped out of the collective consciousness, it feels really good to add another Yuri romance to Asagao to Kase-san among the recommended Yuri anime to watch for 2018.

Ratings:

Art – 7 -1 for the eyes, so 6
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 5 + 1 for Sayaka, so 6
Service – 1 on principle

Overall – 8

I was delighted to find the anime quite enjoyable. I hope you’ll give HIDIVE a trial and see for yourself.

 





Yuri Anime: Cutie Honey Universe (English)

October 22nd, 2018

I finally had a chance to sit down and finish up the Cutie Honey Universe anime, streaming on HIDIVE (where apparently all the Sentai Films series stream, finally!) And, well, honestly, I think it was a darn near perfect iteration of this classic magical-girl adventure. The main story echoes the original manga pretty closely through the first half. Honey’s father is killed, Saint Jogakuen is attacked by Panther Claw, many people die. But in the second half, the series takes a new tack…and I really like it.

For one thing, in this version we get the very gay Aki Nastuko we’ve always deserved. Seduced by Inspector Genet, in love with Honey, this Na-chan is the right one. It was with no surprise, therefore, that we couldn’t keep her. :-(

Inspector Genet / Sister Jill was perfect. Perfect. Obsessed, evil, manipulative…absolutely perfect.

I’ve been watching Cutie Honey for a couple of decades and I’m gonna have to say – this was exceedingly close to what I would call the “ultimate” Cutie Honey. It doesn’t even end with the school in smoking ruins and dead bodies everywhere, so that has to count for something. 

Ratings:

Art – 10 
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Service – 10
Yuri  – 9

Overall – 10

While I still have dreams of butchy Na-chan of Cutie Honey-a-Gogo! and Honey getting together, Cutie Honey Universe runs a close second.





LGBTQ Cartoon: Steven Universe, Season 7

August 26th, 2018

Steven Universe, the blockbuster cartoon about a magical boy is groundbreaking in a dozen ways. In previous seasons, it has dealt with complicated feelings about family, shown us both abusive and functional relationships, discussed war trauma, and repeatedly discusses betrayal, trust, loyalty, friendship and love in its many forms. In a cartoon. For children.

In Season 7 (by Amazon’s reckoning,) Steven Universe delves deeply into those concepts of betrayal and trust. Very deeply. Very, very deeply. This season also complete the process of humanizing the Crystal Gems. In the first few seasons, it is very clear that human relationships are genuinely not a strong point for them. We see this even more starkly in flashbacks to their lives before Steven. In this season, we see the Gems resolve and move through a number of lingering issues by taking part in that humanest of excuses to party – a wedding.

The season begins with secrets, chaos and confusion and geas.
The season resolves with love.
The season ends in chaos and confusion and we have no idea what’s to come.

This season was amazing.

There was not one iota of rebuke or snark in Ruby and Sapphire’s wedding. This is not an episode – heck, it’s not a series – that ever thinks to say, “in your face, haters!” As Steven sings clearly for all of us, caught in the middle of interesting times, for just one day, let’s only think about love…

…and Nell Brinkley. And cowboys. And when the next soundtrack album will be coming out. And holy shit that ending! And all the other stuff. What a season. What a series.

I have repeatedly said in public – often on forums for which this is wildly inappropriate – I want a Peridot/Lapis fusion. I want them to become Azurite. And I want to talk about why. So buckle in.^_^

Someonesomewhere commented that they didn’t want a Peridot/Lapis fusion because they felt that fusions were always about “love.” But I want to talk about fusion, because while Sapphire and Ruby’s fusion is absolutely about love, we’ve seen so many kinds of fusion, from Rubies fusing to make a larger Ruby, to Amethyst and Pearl, whose Opal fusion is not once driven by love – but is instead driven by desire to protect Steven. And we’ve seen non-consensual fusion.

For me, fusion is about trust. Garnet’s words bear that out when she tells Greg that to fuse one must have a gem of light at the core of one’s being and a person who can be trusted with that light.

Lapis has been horribly emotionally scarred, from long before we met her and repeatedly after we do. She can’t trust. She’s never seen trust. Peridot keeps trying to trust Lapis, and getting hurt when she betrays that trust. The moment they fuse will be a profound change for a gem who has been our PTSD poster child. And, selfishly, I really want to see that moment. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8 I love, love, love, the capsule-shaped fog on the Beach City Boardwalk
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Service – Sapphire in a tux counts for 4
Yuri – 9

Overall – 10

Gahh! January is so far away!





Yuri Anime: Asagao to Kase-san OVA (あさがおと加瀬さん)

July 15th, 2018

Deep breath……. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Many thanks to YNN Senior Kase-san Correspondent Verso S for help in obtaining a copy of the Blu-ray, which is still being sold only at theaters in Japan where the OVA is showing. Once again, the Yuri Network is pure awesome. ^_^

Despite being titled Asagao to Kase-san (あさがおと加瀬さん), the story begins after the events of the first manga volume. The story begins with Obentou to Kase-san, as Yamada and Kase-san have been dating since spring…

…my eyes widened as I realized that the entire OVA takes place after “There is a girl, she likes another girl, they like each other, the end.” I cannot impress upon you all enough what a meaningful statement that is for a Yuri Anime. This is not the same girl-meets-girl story we have seen and read over and over. It’s true that this OVA follows a well-worn path, but this time, the path has been set with beautifully animated paving stones and lined with all the flowers we’ve come to love – hydrangeas, and pansies and, of course, morning glories. And lilies. ^_^

Yamada and Kase-san have been dating for a while, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that need to be dealt with. Jealousy and self-esteem, sexual attraction, and possessiveness all get a moment or two in the spotlight, but in 58 minutes, the one thing that really was sidelined was fanservice. Service that existed in the manga was stripped out for this anime, which suited me just fine. It was such a pleasure and a visceral relief that we could enjoy a Yuri romance with the all the truly sexy and appealing things about love and attraction, without any of the tiresome visual cues that sad people replace for love and attraction. There were kisses, and when Kase-san kisses Yamada’s wrist, I was like, now this was written by someone who has actually had a relationship. 

Again, I ask you to consider the choices made here – this was a Yuri romance anime not made for the lowest common denominator. Not one scene, not one decision was a shrugging consideration that we have to rely on the creepy, the sexually immature, the dysfunctional or unimaginative viewer for success. While the Kase-san series is itself a nice, sweet and realistic young love story, this OVA is a masterwork of polite middle fingers to people who can’t watch Yuri without needing sloppy kisses, and unhappy faces.

Voice acting was, as it has been, top-notch. Takahashi Minami as Yamada and Sakura Ayane as Kase-san were excellent and their version of the ED was adorable.

It feels redundant, but let me also note that the animation was delightful and gorgeous and amusing in turn. This series has no grand sweeping epic moments, but every scene was lovingly handled by people who cared, and it shows.

The Kase-san series has done some amazing things – it didn’t die after the magazine it ran in folded, it got a theatrical release for the OVA, (making it a OTA, I guess,) it found a new magazine home, it’s *still* in some theaters in Japan and it has a JP Blu-Ray with English subtitles. The story has been cute since the first chapter, but the business acumen and hard work behind it on the part of Takashima Hiromi-sensei, the folks at Shinsokan Pubishing and Pony Canyon leave me breathless. This is case study quality. This is an outstanding work on every level, including all the ones we never see, like directing and editing.

When the DVD becomes available from Japan through regular sales routes, I will provide a link, I promise. And if you were one of the fortunate to see this at AnimeExpo last week, let us know what you think in the comments. In the meantime, 2018 has 5 months left in which to beat this for the number 1 slot on the top 10 list. I await the competition with baited breath.

Ratings:

Art – 10
Story – 10
Character – 10
Service – 1 on principal only (Although I could make a case for that wrist kiss being service for a different group)
Yuri – 10

Overall – 10

It was…perfect.  Just perfect. Thank you to everyone who worked on it.

I’m told that the premier at AnimeExpo included a video of staff talking about their efforts in getting this OVA made. And I’ve seen all the videos of the voice cast talking about the series. And I really appreciate the efforts of Pony Canyon staff and the support and belief in this series showed by Shinsokan Publishing. But when I think of Kase-san, I think of Takshima-sensei and her assistants grinding away in her room, never giving up on this series and keeping it going no matter what. She deserves every success she receives.





Yuri Anime: Love To-LIE-Angle (English)

April 17th, 2018

Real quick, say “To Lie Angle.” It sounds close to the Japanese pronunciation of “triangle.” Love To-LIE-Angle sounds like “Love Triangle.” That’s the joke in the title of this harem comedy anime by Merryhachi, which runs in Comic Yuri Hime magazine. 

It is, in my opinion, the only clever thing about Yuri anime Love To-LIE-Angle, streaming on Crunchyroll.

Hanabi has come to Tokyo to start a new life. She’s very excited to be staying in a dorm for her school. Instead of the modern high-rise she imagines, the dorm is an old fashioned Japanese style building. The first person she encounters is a girl she was best friends with all of 6 years ago, so of course she doesn’t recognize her. That always happens to me. Just the other day I forgot what my best friend looked like because I hadn’t seen them in a while.

The residents of the Tachibanakan are female and thus, have breasts and crotches, with which Hanabi imagines coming in intimate contact for presumably comedic effect. In episode 3, we are treated to almost-subliminal cuts of of sexual imagery that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the scene playing out.

I was thinking about “fanservice” this morning. I find it depressing to imagine that there are humans who need their attention drawn to secondary sexual characteristics to be prompted to think of something as “sexy.” To my mind there is a huge gap between enjoying the female form (which I do) and thinking that breasts jiggling unrealistically (or a drawn ass stuck in our face with spilled water to stand-in for bodily fluids, or a hug imagined as a three-way rape) is somehow “sexy.” It’s utterly dismal to know that there are people who think that this is funny and sexy and yes, I absolutely think less of people who do. /sigh/ I know I come off as a judgmental jerk, but I think that sexual dysfunction is not funny, objectification is not sexy, and emotional immaturity is not cute, even a little.*

For me, the best thing about this anime is that each episode is 3 minutes long. 

Ratings:

Art – Eh
Story  – UGH
Characters – Eyeroll
Service – Yes
Yuri – Uh-huh

Overall – This is a thing I watched.

If you find the hijinks of Love to-LIE-Angle hilarious, please read the Guest Review guidelines, contact me and we’ll give you space for a review!

In the meantime, I will sob for the live-action drama of 2DK, GPen, Mezamasheitokei that will never be made.

*Just yesterday I was reminded of the “Yaoi/Yuri paddles” being sold at conventions in the 2000s. The folks who came up with the idea tried to give me one but I would not take it. I found them ludicrous and insulting and explained this patiently to everyone who came by my table to show me they had wasted money on them.  I noted that they could have bought 4 books for the price of a useless hunk of wood that did nothing but tell people they were sexually immature.